You can now transform your favorite houseplant into a virtual pet with the ability to communicate its needs. The Lüa smart planter shows 15 different animated emotions based on how your plant is feeling. Not only is Lüa cute, but it’s functional in helping ensure your plants get what they need to thrive. Sensors within the planter trigger the correct emotion animation after measuring the soil’s moisture, light exposure, and temperature. The planter is connected to an app where you can select the type of plant. www.nova969.com.au/you/pot-turns-your-plants-tamagotchi-pet-so-you-stop-killing-them

Coffee waste is a significant environmental issue as it produces methane gas when left to landfill. Zero Impact has a solution, their briquettes are made by compressing dry coffee grounds and waste timber to make an amazing alternative to firewood. Check them out here – https://zeroimpact.co/

Developed as a result of research at the University of Sydney, BioScout is using IoT to track diseases that effect agricultural crops in real time. Their sensors are supported by a platform to give real time data on possible diseases as well as predictive analytics. Find out more at https://www.bioscout.com.au/

Using a 3D printed microscope that clips onto your phone backed by an artificial intelligence App, GoMicro are revolutionising the way farmers identify pests and diseases. By reducing the time and costs involved with identification they will help farmers reduce chemical usage and increase their overall output. GoMicro are also using equity crowdfunding to fund their growth, check it out at http://bit.ly/gomicrocsf

MIRRECO has developed an above ground, carbon capture, utilisation and storage technology, which utilises hemp along with proprietary polymers and an innovative manufacturing process to store CO2 in construction and other products. Learn more on their website http://mirreco.com/

According to reports, the mushroom’s plastic-devouring properties were first discovered in 2011, when a team of Yale undergraduates and their professor traveled to Ecuador for a research trip. They found the mushroom, microspora, in the amazon and were astounded to find that the fungus not only subsists on polyurethane (it’s the first plant to sustain itself only on plastic), but could do so without oxygen. That means it could be planted at the bottom of landfills and happily eat its fill of plastic for eons to come! https://www.newsweek.com/2014/12/26/plastic-eating-fungi-could-solve-our-garbage-problem-291694.html

SoilCQuest have an amazing seed technology which can sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide. This has the added benefit of improving soil health by increasing soil carbon levels which in turn promotes plant growth. This unique technology was discovered by examining the traits of plants that thrived in harsh environments. Find out more here https://www.soilcquest.org.au/

FutureFeed can improve farm profitability and tackles climate change. It produces more food without affecting the environment. FutureFeed can also provide farmers access to other income streams through carbon markets and provide access to premium niche markets through a low carbon footprint. FutureFeed has been supported by the ON Accelerate program at CSIRO. http://www.oninnovation.com.au/en/ON-teams/ON-Tribe/Accelerate2/FutureFeed

Grover Scientific is an innovative method to extract DNA directly from a water sample without having to catch the target organism. This eDNA Pump makes field sampling affordable to researchers, managers and citizen-scientists alike with a more reliable and cost-effective approach for environmental monitoring of aquatic resources. Grover Scientific has been supported by the ON Accelerate program at CSIRO.http://www.oninnovation.com.au/en/ON-teams/ON-Tribe/ON-Accelerate4-Teams/Grover-Scientific

Goterra takes food waste and feeds it to a specific breed of fly larvae before turning the larvae into protein-rich feed for livestock. This insect farm is run automatically. It’s in a modular unit, which can be placed onsite for effective, safe management without the expensive transport or trucking associated with other food waste management systems. https://www.goterra.com.au

SkyCAM System is a state of the art solar forecasting platform. Driven by computer vision and cutting edge algorithms, the system delivers tailored, local and relevant forecasts for your system. SkyCAM significantly reduces costs and the use of diesel usage by a minimum of 15 per cent. Savings of up to 30 per cent can be achieved with SkyCAM with 99 per cent forecast accuracy. SkyCAM has been supported by the ON Accelerate program at CSIRO. http://www.oninnovation.com.au/en/ON-teams/ON-Tribe/ON-Accelerate4-Teams/Cloud180CAM